New $500 Million Contract May Finally Solve Honolulu Rail’s Utility Woes 38 Rail officials tried to get this work done under a prior contract. They say this new deal will finally solve one of the project’s biggest obstacles.
Honolulu rail officials this week awarded a nearly half-billion dollar contract that they hope will finally overcome one of the project’s biggest hurdles: relocating the maze of utility lines that run above and below Dillingham Boulevard.
The $496 million contract went to Nan Inc., according to city records. It will be the second try for the local construction firm. In 2018, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation under prior leadership awarded a separate contract to Nan that essentially put them on call for utility relocation past Middle Street for up to $400 million.
However, as HART failed to get the required city approvals and progress stalled, Nan wound up completing about 8% of that work. Still, the Kalihi firm was paid about $100 million before that original contract was canceled.
